The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1887-06-23

House tonight to representative of
the Associated Press:
when the question was proposed
the President by the adjutant general
an important feature suggested was
the return to the loyal States of flags
which had been captured by Con-
federates and retaken by our army at
the time Of the collapse Of the rebel
lion. They, with such Confederate
flags as had been captured from the
enemy by our troops, it was repre-
sentel, had for long time lain un-
cared for and neglected, packed
away in boxes in q cellar of the war
department, and had been removed
to the attic as a better place for their
safe-keeping.
"The disposition of the flags, which
seemed to be answering no good pur-
pose where they were, was the main
point; and the consideration was
presented to the President that some
flags had been returned to loyal
States upon their request in individ-
ual cases, and the rest if desired.
might as we'll all be returned to.
gether. The return of the Confed-
crate flags which were with the others
in the department was suggested, but
there was not the slightest thought
of interfering in any way with the
captured flags now held by any
State.
"The fact, apparently received with
favor by the country, that lately in
one or more cases Northern troops
visiting their late antagonists in the
South had returned to them flags which
had been captured in battle from
those whose hospitalities they were
receiving; the further fact that
Northern troops who had with in a
short time been visiting Southern
battleields had spoken in the warm
est terms of the kind and hospitable
treatment they had received from
former Confederate soldiers, and the
fact, too, that soldiers from the
North and South were just gather
ing at Washington to meet in friend
ly conception at the national drill,
seemed to indicate that if the Union
flags were returned to the loyal
States which had lost them in battle
it would not be inconsistent with the
fraternal sentiment. which seemed to
be prevalent, to offer, at the same
time the Governors of States which
had been in rebellion the return Of
flags which VIC had taken from their
soldiers.
'"The right of the department to
make these returns being questioned
by the President, such right was dis
tinctly asserted and precedent al.
legged; ttereupon his oral assent was
given to the proposed action. The
matter was dismissed from his mind
until comment thereupon within the
last day or two brought it again to
his attention, when, upon personally
examining the law and considering
the subject more carefully, he salts
fed himself that no disposition Of
these flags could be made without
| Congressional action; whereupon be
directed the suspension Of operations
by the letter made public this even
ing"
At a reception to Gen. Fairchild,
commander.in.chie G. A. R., in
New York, last night, rendered by
the Alexander Hamilton Post, Fair
child delivered an impassioned
speech upon the proposed return to
the Southern States of the flags cap
tured in the late war. Fairchild
spoke under strong excitement, and
almost his first utterance was:
May God palsy the hand that
wrote the order, may God palsy the
brain that conceived it, and may God
palsy the tongue that dictated it,
In the course Of lis speech Fair
child said:
"Since about 1867 the G. A. r.
has been the friend of the South, we
have no sort Of hate or malice
against our old foes anywhere and
are ready to extend them the right
ha2d Of fellowship. Notwithstanding
all this I most emphatically assert
that the Southern States have no
manner of right to take from Us the
relics of the late rebellion in the
shape of Rebel flags. What would
Missouri, Maryland, Mississippi, South
Carolina snd other States do with
the flags if they had them Would
the Governors Of these States place
them in their State capitals as EN-.
Glems to be revered and to t,ach
coming generations treason? No
loyal Governor Of any State in this
I--;o, 1r;1l roooi1.o thnrn Tbou &c m